GRTgaz and Fluxys have launched a market call to assess the needs and economic interest in setting up a 150km open-access hydrogen pipeline network between France and Belgium.
The proposed pipeline would connect the ports of Dunkirk in France, and Ghent and Antwerp in Belgium, bringing low-carbon hydrogen to industries such as steel, refining and chemicals.
GRTgaz is planning to construct the pipeline network at the Port of Dunkirk under its DHUNE project, while Fluxys intends to have hydrogen moving through its first sections of infrastructure by 2026.
Read more:Fluxys named Belgium’s Hydrogen Network Operator
However, the two companies now say in response to “growing market demands,” they are proposing a shared cross-border infrastructure that will ensure connectivity between the three industrial hubs.
The say the development would “guarantee” flexibility and supply diversity to all industries that want to connect to the infrastructure.
Now open until November 29, 2024, the call for market interest is aimed at establishing future market needs.
Pascal De Buck, CEO and Managing Director of Fluxys, said, “This new collaboration with GRTgaz…aims to create a cross-border network between Belgium and France, and is fully in line with our global approach to contributing to the construction of key infrastructure for the decarbonisation of northwest Europe.”
Sandrine Meunier, CEO of GRTgaz, added, “Together, we are convinced that the future of renewable and low-carbon hydrogen relies on the availability of infrastructures capable of transporting and storing large quantities of hydrogen, connecting production sites to consumption areas, both nationally and across Europe.”
